At The Roundtable, we believe that inclusive leadership isn’t just good practice—it’s the heart of courageous, modern leadership. In our latest Ask The Expert webinar, we explored what it truly means to create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Our incredible panel—Nicole McVan, Vice President of Philanthropy at United Way Greater Toronto, Meg Mathes IDEA Specialist at EquiMeg Consulting Inc., and Nirav Patel Head of HR & Employee Communications at Atura Power—shared real stories and bold insights on what it really takes to lead inclusively in today’s complex world.
If you missed it, you can catch the full recording here. In the meantime, here are our three top takeaways from the webinar.
1. Brave Spaces Invite Growth: Nicole introduced us to the idea of brave space, drawn from the poem “An Invitation to Brave Space” by Mickey ScottBey Jones. Unlike “safe spaces,” which promise protection, brave spaces invite accountability, grace, and discomfort as part of growth.
Nicole also reminded us that inclusive leadership doesn’t stop at our workplace doors. As a community leader, they urged us to extend that mindset outward. One way? Support organizations like United Way, which are building inclusive communities every day.
2. Inclusion Lives in the Micro-Moments: Meg Mathes highlighted how exclusion often hides in plain sight. It’s the mispronounced name. The silent hallway. The voice that goes unheard in a meeting. These “microexclusions” erode trust and silence voices.
Start noticing. Be the person who leans in instead of looking away. Because inclusion isn’t a program or a policy—it’s a habit.
3. Community at Work Starts with Curiosity: Nirav reminded us that belonging doesn’t just happen; leaders set the tone. It’s a direct reflection of how leaders show up, speak up, and create space. If you’re not asking your team what community means to them, then you’re missing the point. The most inclusive leaders aren’t the ones who have the right words—they’re the ones who ask the right questions and create room for the answers.
Thank you again to our incredible panelists and to everyone who joined us for this informative session. Be sure to follow The Roundtable on LinkedIn to get updates on our latest events and activities and visit our website to catch-up on previous programs. Our panel on Mental Health is a must-watch.
And, download our free Safety Index if you’re looking for an activity to open up conversations on your team. To learn more about how we help organizations build more inclusive cultures from the inside out, we’d love to chat. Reach out to us!
